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Brother Ronald Gallagher, FSC, Ph.D., has been appointed as the interim President for Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory (SHC), a Roman Catholic high school that enrolls young men and women in grades 9 through 12 in San Francisco. Gallagher, who led Saint Mary’s as the College’s president for eight and a half years, will guide the high school on a one-year basis, while a national search is conducted for a permanent leader for SHC.

Gallagher’s appointment, which begins on August 1, 2014 was approved by Archbishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone, as SHC is part of the San Francisco Archdiocese, and jointly announced on July 11 by Brother Donald Johanson, Visitor of the District of San Francisco New Orleans and Sister Marjory Ann Baez, DC, Visitatrix for the Daughters of Charity, Province of the West.

Brother Ronald said he is proud to serve as the interim president of SHC, adding, "Sacred Heart Cathedral is an outstanding school. I look forward to working with the entire SHC community in furthering the Lasallian Vincentian mission in San Francisco.”

After serving as SHC's president for 15 years, John Scudder, Jr., who is also a Saint Mary’s alumnus from the class of 1977, will assist Brother Ronald in the area of institutional advancement during the 2014-15 academic year and the transition to a new president for the high school.

Noting his experience as a Lasallian educator and accomplished administrator in higher education, Sister Marjory Ann and Brother Donald shared their enthusiasm about Gallagher’s new role at SHC, "We are extremely grateful to both Brother Ronald Gallagher and John Scudder for their generous acceptance of these responsibilities as we continue to serve the students and families who make up the SHC community. We have confidence that with this leadership team and God’s grace, SHC will continue to be an exemplary expression of our Catholic, Vincentian and Lasallian mission."

SHC is part of the Archdiocese of San Francisco Department of Catholic Schools and is sponsored by the De La Sallle Christian Brothers and the Daughters of Charity. Established in 1633 by Saint Vicent de Paul and Saint Louise de Marillac, D.C., the Daughters of Charity is a Catholic order of women dedicated to serving the "poorest of the poor." San Francisco's first Catholic co-educational high school, SHC was formed in 1987 when Sacred Heart School for boys (founded in 1874) under the direction of the Christian Brothers merged with Cathedral High School for girls (founded in 1852) under the auspices of the Daughters of Charity.

Sacred Heart Cathedral is also one the top Catholic high schools whose seniors select Saint Mary's as their choice for higer education, with about 240 SHC students attending the College over the past 15 years.